Juba can’t do without foreigners at this time

What you need to know:

  • For South Sudan to purport to expel foreign workers, therefore, amounts to betrayal. The decision also contravenes diplomatic and other contractual obligations. Thus, it is gratifying that someone saw sense and reversed the earlier decision.
  • South Sudan may be miffed that millions of its nationals are unemployed, poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged, but that does not justify reckless sanctions that pit it against the international community.

The government of South Sudan Wednesday sought to calm tensions rising over an earlier decree to expel foreigners working there.

In the pronouncement, the government had given non-nationals employed in any organisation in that country an October 15 deadline to leave, instantly drawing outrage from the international community.

The regional countries were enraged at how ungrateful South Sudan could be when they had stood by it all through the tumultuous period of its history. They hosted many of its nationals, and continue to do so today.

The neighbours, particularly Kenya, played an instrumental role in the discussions leading to the separation of the South and the North.

As an infant that required nurturing and mentoring, the neighbouring countries provided human and capital resources to help the new nation stand on its feet.

Many companies from Kenya, Uganda and other neighbouring countries rushed there to set up shop to provide services.

BETRAYAL

When the companies, non-governmental organisations and other entities moved into South Sudan, they secured guarantees from the government that their businesses would be protected. Diplomatic protocols were signed and terms of engagement spelt out.

For South Sudan to purport to expel foreign workers, therefore, amounts to betrayal. The decision also contravenes diplomatic and other contractual obligations. Thus, it is gratifying that someone saw sense and reversed the earlier decision.

South Sudan may be miffed that millions of its nationals are unemployed, poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged, but that does not justify reckless sanctions that pit it against the international community.